Stress

Stressful events can rapidly modify how the brain responds to its environment and guides behaviors. These processes are relevant for neurotypical brain function and for the development of affective disorders and other psychiatric diseases, yet we have much to learn regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this paper, researchers utilized pharmacologic, transgenic, and optogenetic tools to evaluate changes in brain function related to stress. Read More

Histamine — commonly associated with allergies — also has a signaling role in the brain’s reward center and may offer a novel target for treating addiction. Read More

With families facing unprecedented stress during the COVID-19 crisis, parents need to prioritize mental wellness in order to be present for their children, Vanderbilt psychology professor Bruce Compas says. Read More

Danny Winder and colleagues are teasing apart the actions of neurotransmitter receptors in a brain region linked to anxiety and addiction, with a goal of finding treatments for substance use disorders. Read More

To support Vanderbilt community members, the Office of Student Care Coordination, the University Counseling Center, the Center for Student Wellbeing and the Employee Assistance Program have compiled tips on ways individuals can take care of their mental health and well-being throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Inhibiting COX-2 — an enzyme associated with inflammation — could provide a novel therapeutic approach for stress-related psychiatric disorders. Read More

Dr. Nathaniel Clark, associate professor of clinical psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explains his study indicating that male bonding may reduce your stress or help you adapt to stressful situations. Read More

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's Helping Families Cope with Stress Study aims to promote children's healthy adjustment by teaching your family about the nature and effects of stress. Research participants are needed. Read More

The Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center begins its fall schedule of Work-Life Workshops for faculty, staff and graduate students Thursday, Sept. 28. Read More

In this Human Resources workshop, you will gain helpful tools and strategies for dealing with the stress and anxiety that change can produce. Read More

New findings could explain the link between chronic stress and reduced survival in women diagnosed with breast cancer, and could lead to new strategies to improve treatment outcomes. Read More

Your family may be eligible to participate in a research study at Vanderbilt University that aims to help parents and children regarding the effects of stress. Read More

Learning to practice self-care can be a difficult process, but it is becoming a necessity for dealing with constant coverage of world events, work demands, and the needs of family and loved ones. Read More

Jim Kendall, manager of Work/Life Connections-EAP, will present "Building Stress Resilience" Thursday, Sept. 29, in Sarratt Student Center, Room 363. The workshop will begin at noon, and lunch will be provided. Read More

Vanderbilt psychiatrist Judith Akin, who frequently counsels people having a hard time through the holidays, has a quick guideline: Set a course “between Hallmark and heartache,” and aim to have a “pretty good little Christmas.” Read More

(iStockphoto) Vanderbilt psychiatrist Judith Akin, M.D., who frequently counsels people who are having a hard time through the holidays, has a quick guideline: set a course “between Hallmark and heartache” and aim to have a “pretty good little Christmas.” In other words, she says,… Read More

Did you know that as a Vanderbilt employee, you have access to several programs to assist with stress and depression during the holidays or anytime at no cost? Read More

The words “holiday” and “stress” do not belong together, says Chad Buck, a clinical psychologist with Vanderbilt’s Work/Life Connections–EAP. Read More

An overactive stress response contributes to the development of insulin resistance in obese individuals, and blocking it may be therapeutically beneficial. Read More

Augmenting the signals of natural “endocannabinoids” in the brain may be a promising approach for treating mood and anxiety disorders. Read More